Sinfully Flawed But Heavenly Bound

By Dale Hatfield

For much of my life I thought I knew myself. Lately I've come to find out I don't know myself as well as I thought. Traits I thought I had, I don't have at all. Traits I thought I didn't have, I have in abundance. Sensitive, kind, caring, generous, I still think I have all of those traits. But sometimes I'm also mean, arrogant, stubborn, and temperamental. I think all of us have all of those traits in some quantity. Alas, I think I don't have enough of the good traits and an extra portion of the bad ones.
There are two things I do know about myself, so much so that I would "bet the farm on it" as the saying goes. The first of those two things is that I am a miserable sinner. The second is that I am going to Heaven.
This is the story of my journey from Hell to Heaven. But it can also be your story. Whoever you are, whatever you have done or continue to do, there is a clear path to Heaven, freshly paved and easy to follow. And you are welcome to travel it with me.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dale Hatfield
• Release date: Jul 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463666623

Dale Hatfield

Born in Farmville Virginia. Served in the United States Navy for seven years. Lived in numerous places from Florida to Maine to Arizona to Washington State. Favorite places are Portland Maine, Seattle Washington, and Berkeley Springs West Virginia.

Book preview

Sinfully Flawed

BUT

heavenly bound

Published by Dale Hatfield at Smashwords

Copyright 2019 Dale Hatfield

SINFULLY FLAWED BUT HEAVENLY BOUND is dedicated to Jerry Hatfield, my older brother. Quiet, cerebral, charismatic, likeable are all good words to describe him. But the word I think of most when I think of Jerry is friend.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

When writing this book, I sometimes turned to others for ideas and inspiration. Their contributions were so very valuable and appreciated.

My brother Jerry always listens and always answers, sometimes gently, sometimes with a punch to the gut, but always sincerely. He helped shape and crystallize some of my most important ideas expressed here.

Pastor Mark Johnson, senior Pastor/Teacher at Independent Bible Church in Martinsburg West Virginia, was the first person the Holy Spirit directed me to when I had questions about some of my ideas. Those ideas sometimes reside outside the box of conventional understanding. Without prodding me to change my message, Pastor Mark directed me to several sources that gave me new insight into my own beliefs and how to present them in a way acceptable to God. He prayed for me and asked God to bless and direct my efforts.

I have a friend who wishes to remain nameless. When I had very specific doubts and questions about some doctrine and teaching, the Holy Spirit directed me to talk to her. She pointed to some of Jesus’ own words that removed all confusion and doubt I may have had. No matter how stubborn I may be about thinking I am right, I have always understood that getting it right is more important than being right. The Holy Spirit knew this, and knew that she would point me to Jesus who always speaks the truth.

Thank you all so very much.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 - Do I Believe In God

Chapter 2 - The Bible

Chapter 3 - Jesus

Chapter 4 - The Holy Spirit

Chapter 5 - The Holy Spirit and Me

Chapter 6 - Thirteen Thirteen

Chapter 7 - Arrogance, Anger, Addiction

Chapter 8 - Jekyll Or Hyde

Chapter 9 - Addiction and Obsession

Chapter 10 - Patience, Perseverance, and Salvation

About the Author

Introduction

For much of my life I thought I knew myself. Lately I’ve come to find out I don’t know myself as well as I thought. Traits I thought I had, I don’t have at all. Traits I thought I didn’t have, I have in abundance. Sensitive, kind, caring, generous, I still think I have all of those traits. But sometimes I’m also mean, arrogant, stubborn, and temperamental. I think all of us have all of those traits in some quantity. Alas, I think I don’t have enough of the good traits and an extra portion of the bad ones.

There are two things I do know about myself, so much so that I would bet the farm on it as the saying goes. The first of those two things is that I am a miserable sinner. The second is that I am going to Heaven.

How do I know I’m a miserable sinner? At the end of each day I look back on what I have done that day, and there are my sins, if not frozen in time at least frozen in my thoughts. What the particular sins were that day does not matter. It only matters that they exist.

We often struggle with the definition of sin. What makes some things sins and others not sins? There is debate whether abortion and homosexuality are sins. Addiction to pornography is considered by many to be a sin. Is something a sin if it is born out of a defect in genetic makeup? I don’t know. I think the easiest rule to follow is that if it is contrary to the will of God